A Great Tribute

I have to admit Glenn Beck is one of my favorite people. If you don't know him, he is a Policitcal Pundit/ Conservative Radio Talkshow host/ and now has his own TV show on CNN Headline News/ and Author. I love his take on things. He doesn't claim loyalty to a political side, but claims himself as a conservative/ a thinker/ and sometimes a rodeo clown. (he's also a comedian) So anyways, I listen to his radio program everyday, and when I miss it, I listen to the podcast later. Because I'm a Glenn Beck Insider, I have access to all his podcasts, etc. Anyways did I mention that I really like him. I'm hoping to visit his studio next time I go to NYC.
OK, I know I'm a geek. And Eric has even accused me of having a crush on him, which is not completely accurate, but has a little truth to it.
On Monday night he gave a great tribute to President Hinckley at the end of his show that was really touching. I just wanted to share. I thought it was really neat that he did this dedication on a live television show. (he is LDS by the way)

http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/200/5127/?ck=1

I truly will miss our dear President Hinckley. I am grateful for his lifelong service to our church and to the Lord that he dedicated his life to. I know he and sweet Margarie are still making their rounds greeting and embracing the many people in heaven who are welcoming him home. Think how many people have had their temple work done because he dedicated and built so many temples here on earth. I hope that I can look to his wonderful example and strive to be better.

Tennis anyone?

Since soccer ended in December, Taylor has started Tennis lessons now and she is loving it. She is taking them over at the Tennis Center at the JW Marriott. (gotta love that even Tennis lessons have Associate Rates) :) There are only 4 girls in her little class, so it's a nice small group. It helps that her good friends, Emma and Claire Jones are in her same class. They have so much fun. The entire hour is full of games, games and more tennis games. The girls don't even realize they are actually learning tennis skills because they are having such a blast. All 4 girls where pink every week, and even their teacher wore pink today, they were so tickled. They are the cute pink tennis girls!

Brent needs a 2 and under class to join. He runs along side with them and when he gets away from me, he joins in their drills. He's actually really coordinated. We've learned to bring my racket for him to play with on the sidelines with me. Otherwise he's stealing everyone's elses racket and running for the loose balls.

It's Official....

We are moving. Yes, it's official. It has been in the works for the last few months. Marriott wants Eric in the Orange County office M-F. Since last March, he has been leaving Tues and coming back on Thurs, and then at his Shadow Ridge office on Mondays and Fridays. It is really a blessing for our family, it has been hard to have Dad gone during the week and we are excited to have him home every night. Wow, what will it be like to not have to get a babysitter to go to YW's, Enrichment or a girls night every once in a while? Although I do have to say it has been nice to have Eric's brother, Curt here to help out with the kids at night when I need him. He is living with us and doing his internship at the Marriott until April. So he will pack up with us and probably work out of the O.C. office also.
It is really so bittersweet... We love living in the desert. We love the friends we've made here, we love our ward, we love our house and yard. But we know this is an answer to our prayers so we can be a real family. I am grateful that Marriott is moving us out there... that means I don't have to box up anything. YEAH! And I'm grateful that they've made it so we can afford to live out there too. Yikes, yes the neighborhoods are great and all but it's expensive.
So if anyone knows anyone who wants a great house for a great price send them our way. (4 bedroom/ 3 bath, 2060 sq.ft. gated community/ quite neighborhood/ DSUSD schools/ lots of upgrades in the house: 4" baseboards throughout, new custom media center and cupboards in the family room, upgraded guest area with laminate wood floors, wainscoting, and beautiful custom tile guest shower/ bathroom) ... I can't say enough great things about my house. I'm sad to leave it.
If any of you have any suggestions on neighborhoods/ areas you know of in the O.C. that are nice, let us know. We have an idea where we want to be but it's not set in stone. We really like the Rancho Santa Margarita area. (It's just past Mission Viejo)
So now the fun begins... keeping the house spotless, for potential viewers. (I know the market is slow, so maybe they will be few an far between but I still have to have the house ready to show.) So I forsee many movies for the kids so I can make my vacuum lines while they sit on the couch. :)

2007 Gillis Christmas Movie

So for Christmas, we put together a little movie with all of our pictures from Christmas. Take a look and tell us what you think!

Go to: http://gallery.mac.com/ekgillis#100029

Or you can go to the Gillis Media Gallery on our links to the left and then click on the Movie. Hope you enjoy.

Sioux City Root Beer

This is good Root Beer, but lost a lot of points because it is an impersonator. It is a mix between Barq's and A&W. It has a lot of likability, but I am looking for a Root Beer that stands out on its own. There is a fine line with Sparkle and Smoothness. This is an argument in the family right now; can you have strong sparkle, yet still be smooth. I argue that you can. I have yet to find the perfect combination, but it has to exist. What are your thoughts? Do you have an opinion on this?

Smoothness:.......2
Rootness:..........2.7
Sparkle:.............4
Originality:.........1.5
Likability:..........3.5
Branding:...........3

Overall:............ 2.8

Mason's Root Beer

This was a pleasant surprise and one of the better Root Beers that we have had in the show down. It claims to have a keg brewed flavor, and I would have to agree with Mason's on this count. It had a great smoothness to it and a good root flavor as well. This would be a good ol' BBQ Root Beer that you could break out for the friends. Website: www.realsoda.com The score is as follows:

Smoothness:........4
Rootness:............3
Sparkle:..............3
Originality:.......2.9
Likability:........3.5
Branding:..........2.5

Overall:.............3.2

Baron's Boothill Sassparilla

Well, the packaging is nothing to right home about, but I guess it matches a Sassparilla. When testing this Root Beer, it just came up with very little taste to it. It was still better than the Abita we tested before this, but lacked some of the other characteristics I'm looking for, like rootness. This is a Root Beer you give to your kids or your in-laws to make them feel special because it's Root Beer in a bottle, but you feel good because you didn't have to waste the good stuff on people who wouldn't appreciate! So here is the score:

Smoothness:.........4
Rootness:..............1
Sparkle:..............2.5
Originality:.........3.5
Likability:...........2.5
Branding:.............2

Overall:..............2.6

Does she remind you of anybody?

Let's just say Taylor is going through a stage. At least I hope it is! My five year old is going on fifteen. We have arguments/ melt downs every morning about what she's wearing for school. AND her School has UNIFORMS. It should be easy but it's not. She will cry and say I have nothing to wear. I don't like that, I don't like this... etc. Which some mornings I'm patient with and we go over many options etc, and some mornings it just makes me mad and then I'm probably just sinking down to her level by arguing over a silly outfit. She's 5 shouldn't I be able to have some say in what she wears?
Well today I threw in the towel. To try to solve our dilemma last night I suggested that we pick her outfit out so we wouldn't be rushed the next morning. She then told me that when she's grown up she wants to be a fashion designer. (I didn't even know what a fashion designer was when I was 5!) So I let her put together her own 'masterpiece.' Being tired it didn't bother me too much, but in the morning I almost took back my promise, but I stayed strong and told her it looked great and she did a good job choosing. I don't ever remember my mom telling us we had to wear something (except something appropriate for church) And that's how kids express themselves... right? Well Eric and I thought there was a slight resemblance to a certain childhood TV star. So Taylor is our new little PUNKY. And we love her that way!

Abita Root Beer

Well, this is a Root Beer from Louisiana and made from pure Louisiana Sugar Cane. Katie, having been born in Louisiana, should have a little pride in the Root Beer. But from the mouth of a native she said, "this is low-income housing Root Beer, or the projects of Root Beer". With that said, this is a pretty terrible Root Beer. I wouldn't wish this upon my BYU friends. Here are the results:

Smoothness:.......1
Rootness:...........1
Sparkle:...........4.5
Originality:.........2
Likability:...........1
Branding:...........1

Overall:............1.8

Boylan Bottleworks Root Beer

Smoothness:......3
Rootness:.......2.5
Sparkle:..........4.5
Originality:........4
Likability:,,,,,,,,3.5
Branding:...........3

Overall:..........3.4

This was an interesting Root Beer. It had a good strong impact on first gulp because of the strength of the carbonation (sparkle). I felt that this was more of a creme soda than an actual Root Beer. It is made from pure cane sugar, so this would be the cause of the creaminess. I'm all for a good creamy Root Beer, but this was a sweet cream taste that I would get from a good cream soda. It was a good soda, but lacked the true characteristics of a good Root Beer.

Jackson Hole Soda Co: Buckin' Rootbeer

So this is the first Root Beer that I'm judging. You can review more sodas from this company on jhsodaco.com.

The Results:

Smoothness:.....5
Rootness:.........4
Sparkle:............3
Originality:.......3
Likability:.........4
Branding:......3.5

Overall: ........3.7

This was a pretty good Root Beer to start the showdown off. I tend to like a stronger Root Beer, meaning a little more carbonation. If this Root Beer had some more, it would have gotten a much better score. It is very smooth going down though. The branding was original, but they could have had a better picture. It still doesn't beat a cold Henry's.

The Root Beer Showdown

Well, I am going to share this blog with my lovely wife, I hope you don't mind some mindless banter. Several years ago, I professed over the pulpit while giving a talk in church that I have a fascination with Root Beer and I am on a never ending quest to find the perfect Root Beer. Having professed this infatuation in public, I now receive root beers from all over the country as gifts and tokens of friendship. Recently, I received a crate full of Root Beer from Creedence Anderson for helping him snag a room for his honeymoon. The Anderson family has been a major contributor to my Root Beer quest. Whenever they find a new and unusual Root Beer, they bring it home for me to test. I sure appreciate their help in this quest. So for the next month or so, I will be documenting and rating the 24 Root Beers that I just received. I have tried several of the ones I received, but their are quite a few new ones that I have not. I am rating each Root Beer on the following categories:

Smoothness: How it goes down
Rootness: How strong is the taste of the actual root
Sparkle: The level of carbonation
Originality: Does it have a different taste than the every day root beer
Likability: Does it have an overall likeness to it, this is obviously very subjective
Branding: How is the labeling and the name of the root beer
Overall: This is the overall score of the rootbeer and an average of the above scores

The scale is from 1-5; 5 being the highest score.

If you have suggestions on your favorite Root Beer, please let me know and I will test and rank it. Currently right now, my favorite is Henry Weinhardts Root Beer. Donations are always accepted! :)

Christmas Break

We have enjoyed our few weeks off of our normal routine of school, etc. Taylor is looking forward to starting school and Tennis this week. She is going to start a 6 week Tennis camp I guess you would call it. Eric and I have gotten into Tennis this past year, and subsequently she has started liking it also. We love to go to Fritz Burns Park in La Quinta on Monday nights for FHE and play tennis as a family. Soccer season is now over and it's nice for her to have something to look forward to. And a little exercise is always good.
Brent is talking more and more everyday. It's so fun to see his vocabulary increase so quickly. He loves to announce when someone walks into the room and joins the group. He's say, "Tays Home!" or "Daddy's home". It's so cute that he confuses the 'home' with actually 'here' but it's the same concept, right. He is just my snuggle bug. He loves to give numerous hugs during the day. He has a hard time when Taylor goes to school. He wears a backpack when we walk her into school. I think he's hoping I'll let him stay someday. So he plays with all the other kids on the playground, he climbs the stairs runs across the bridge, under the clubhouse and down the slide. There are like 7 kids on his heels doing the same thing. They all squeal and laugh, they just love him. And Taylor doesn't seem to mind sharing the attention (surprisingly). I think she's proud that he's her brother.
Taylor is learning to read and doing such a great job. She is just taking off with her sounding out of words and memorizing her sight words and numbers. She is reading Dick and Jane-like books and loving her new found skill. I'll be reading to her at night and she will point out the words on the page that she knows and she's so proud of herself.
I have to mention the cute thing she said on Christmas Eve when I was laying down with her to help her fall asleep. She turned to me and said, "Mom, these darn Sugar Plums keep dancing in my head, and Mom, I don't even know what Sugar Plums are!" It was so funny. I guess we read the Night before Christmas one too many times.

Some commentary on the pictures: We got a croquet set from Sarah and Chad for Christmas that we LOVE. Brent and Taylor have had so much fun, and so far, no broken windows. Taylor did break a mallet by throwing it on the ground because she was mad she missed a wicket ( for those of you unfamiliar with croquet jargon, that is the tunnel shaped wire the balls go through). I think we might need a little Anger management at our house.
We also enjoyed visiting with my sister Sarah and her daughter Audrey over break, so this is a picture of the cousins. ;)
What do you think? Does Brent need a hair cut or what?